The Un-justified End
“There was a Brutus once that would have brook’d th’eternal devil to keep his state in Rome as easily as a King.” Throughout the course of the novel, Brutus’ motivation helps his accomplish his goal of restoring Rome to it’s former glory, a republic. He fights to continue the legacy that his ancestors fought for, a free Rome, as seen in the quote above. Brutus’ patriotism to Rome is evident, as is his chivalry to his ancestors and Romans, and these traits help him accomplish his goal, a Roman republic.
Brutus acted against his best friend because he felt that his love for his country, his patriotism, comes above all else, even friendship. The reason for Brutus’ patriotism is that he feels the need to live up to the name of Brutus as his ancestors fought for the Roman Republic and honour for Rome. The behavior that resulted form this is the death of Brutus’ best friend, Julius Caesar. Brutus claims the killing was for the people and the general good of Rome, but the people only take the story for a few minutes until Mark Antony changes their view and causes a revolt that leads to the death of Brutus and his fellow Conspirator and friend Caius Cassius. Act 3, scene 2. lines 20 – 21.(p.128) “If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not that I love Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” This quote is extracted from Act 3, scene 2 where Brutus is delivering his speech at Caesar’s funeral. The quote states that Brutus loved Caesar as much as anybody, just that he loved Rome more, enough to give hi life for it. Act 3, scene 2. Line 41 – 43 (p.130)“As I slew by best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death.” The quote here comes form the same act 3, scene 2 as the one above. Here, Brutus says that he is prepared to lay his life down if Rome wanted it, a true patriotic gesture. I think that Rome doesn't treat Brutus like he should be treated but as an exile and outlaw who murdered their friend and leader. I also think that the honour of Brutus is so great for his country that he is prepared to do anything to salvage it.
The chivalry of Brutus comes from his ancestors, who fought for Rome in the name of glory and honour. Brutus knows that he is about to lose what his ancestors fought so hard to gain and he wants to continue the legacy of a republic. Because of this honour, many respect Brutus and he respects them back, but not equally. To the lower classes, he doesn't love them as much as he loves his friends and nobles. Act 2, scene 1. lines 170 – 173 (p.74) “But, alas, Caesar must bleed for it. And, gentle friends, let’s kill boldly, but not wrathfully;” This quote is taken when Brutus is explaining to the conspirators that they should honour Caesar by giving him a honourable death fit for he gods. The quote shows how Brutus respects his enemies as well as his friends, thus his enemies respect him too. Act 5, scene 5. lines 68 – 72 (p.218) “This was the noblest Roman of all. All the conspirators save only he did that they did in envy of great Caesar; he only, in a general honest thought and common good to all, made one of them.” The quote here was spoken by Mark Antony and it’s directed to the fallen Brutus. It states that Brutus was the most honourable roman of all and that he was the only one who acted against Caesar for the common good, not for personal gain. Mark Antony saying this, as an enemy, shows how much Brutus was respected and honoured by his enemies as well as his friends. I think that for someone to be respected by both friend and foe it takes something really special and it truly says something about how people see him.
The clash between friendship and patriotism is Brutus’ conflict and, unfortunately, even tough solved, does not accomplish his goal of a Roman republic. The motivators of Brutus caused him to act in ways that define chivalry and patriotism, he slew his best friend and he offered his life for the country he loved, and, when the time came to need of his death, he took it willingly. Brutus partially completed his goal because, even tough the republic was not founded and honour did not come to Rome, it did to the name of Brutus. He tried his best and his enemies respected him for that so he still honoured his ancestors by fighting for what he thought was right. I think he didn’t fully achieve his goal because he made careless mistakes by not talking to the people in the right way and not explaining to them fully why he did what he did. In my opinion, Brutus’ goal was a noble goal and that he would have been honoured had he accomplished it. But, as he didn't, it wasn’t worthy because it bore no fruit for him. So, through and through, the end did not justify Marcus Brutus’ means.
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